Steve Tilford

The 2nd day at Elk Grove is a do over for the 1-2 field. Same race. 10km longer. The 10km made a difference I think. The field got smaller much quicker than yesterday. It happened in the PRO race too. It is surprising how hard a race with a U turn is. The race went badly for us, TradeWind Energy guys. We, all 3, were riding much better. Towards the end of the race a large group got away. Over 10 guys. Then 2’s and 3’s started latching on. Eventually there were over 20 guys in the “break”. And just a few more than that left in the field. Where I was. I jumped out of the U turn and tried to bridge up. I only managed to launch Josh Carter and Chad Cagle up to the move. I didn’t make it. I wasn’t that tired. Just was lazy or something. Josh ended up winning the race. Over $2000 for 1st, I think. Brian Jensen, from my team, was off the front with 2 other guys with 3 laps to go. One of the guys he was with hit his pedal, fell and took Brian down. He got up and chased back onto the tail end of the break again, but wasn’t mentally with it and missed the bell. Obviously he didn’t do well in the sprint. I felt better, but am still way tweeked. This might be the first race this season, other than stages in stage races, that I haven’t won money in. I usually have one of those races every year. This one shouldn’t of been it.

The Kenda women beat Laura Van Gilder today. Yesterday, Catherine Walberg was 3rd. Today her team mate won. They made bank. Catherine was so tired after the race yesterday, below is how she put her bottle back on her bike. It is amazing it stayed there.

Launching Josh up to the break.

photo-7

Nicer photo of Catherine with her big size check.

I haven’t been feeling my best. Pretty banged and scabbed up. A little infection here and there. I’m still trying to get some form of fitness for this time of the year. Not sure what the best formula is for that, but something is usually better than nothing. Anyway, I’ve decided to just ride my bike. Go out and ride on the unbelievable nice roads here in Southern Wisconsin. It is very picturesque here. I am not worrying about training. No worry about wind direction, speed, hills, etc. Just going out and getting lost for few hours and then figure my way back.

Today I started with a tailwind. I felt bad right from the first pedal stroke. When I feel like that and want to get in some miles, I usually ride tailwind first. I put on my headphones and started riding Northeast. It got better after the first hour or so. Anyway, I ended up riding 40 or so miles NE and saw a sign for Waterford, Wisconsin. I hadn’t been there for quite awhile and thought I’d go by and visit Richard Schwinn and Co. at Waterford Bicycles.

I rode for the Schwinn Professional Team for 4 years, so I knew where the building was. I’d been up there for dealer visits etc. during those days. I got my team bike stolen out of my garage one time and Mike Farrell, the team director, sent me a plane ticket to Chicago for the next day and I went up to Waterford and returned with a new bike. That was pretty cool.

Anyway, Richard Schwinn was in his office and gave me the Tour. I have know Richard almost since I started racing bikes. He is an bicycle advocate through and through. Passionate for sure. He told me his daughter is working for Zipp and is carrying on the tradition. To me, it didn’t seem like a lot had changed since the Paramount days. They had a lot of custom lugs there for the Anniversary Paramount Framesets. They were beautiful. Hand made, hand welded stainless steel. Nice.

Last week I was in Waterloo at the Trek Factory. Now, this week at Waterford. They almost couldn’t be more different. Different for sure, but beautiful/functional in their own respective way.